Method for geo-targeting wireless emergency alerts

ABSTRACT

Geo-targeting may be used in combination with wireless alert capabilities to provide alerts to a more granulated geographical area. Disclosed herein is a system and method for performing geo-targeting for various alert areas such that emergency messages may be delivered to mobile and static devices of different types in a localized area. In an example embodiment, geo-targeting supports the delivery area for wireless emergency alerts by identifying the cell sites that are in a specified geographic area that have technology capable of delivering wireless emergency alerts. The components of the telecommunications system that support a wireless emergency alert system may be identified and mapped to any geographical area. The method and system of geo-target mapping may provide an efficient and more robust way of determining the telecommunication components to be employed for broadcasting emergency alerts.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The instant application is a continuation of, and claims priority to,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/124,028 filed May 20, 2008. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/124,028 is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field generally relates to communications systems and morespecifically relates to geo-targeting wireless emergency alerts.

BACKGROUND

Mobile device users may receive emergency alerts that are transmitted bytheir wireless network provider to their mobile device. The emergencyalerts may be broadcast via a broadcast network. However it is difficultto send a unique message to a particular area. For example, not all ofthe mobile device users that receive the emergency alert are in thegeographic area affected by the emergency event. Further, not allcomponents in the telecommunications infrastructure in a particulargeographic region, such as some cell towers, are capable of broadcastingemergency alerts.

The management of telecommunications capabilities is crucial duringdisasters that degrade the infrastructure, especially where theinfrastructure may have been minimal beforehand. It is desirable toefficiently provide emergency alerts & warnings to the greatest numberof people necessary without significantly adding load to the criticalnetwork resources, and to target the alerts & warnings to people in thegeographical area that is affected.

SUMMARY

Geo-targeting is a common tool for targeting information to a specifiedgeographical area. Geo-targeting may be used in combination withwireless alert capabilities to provide alerts to a more granulatedgeographical area. Described herein is a system and method forperforming geo-targeting for various alert areas such that emergencymessages may be delivered to mobile and static devices of differenttypes in a localized area. In an example embodiment, geo-targetingsupports the delivery area for wireless emergency alerts by identifyingthe cell sites that are in a specified geographic area that havetechnology capable of delivering wireless emergency alerts. Further, thecomponents of the telecommunications system that support a wirelessemergency alert system may be identified and mapped across differentgeographical levels (e.g., county, state, region). In this way, mobiledevice users in the affected geographical area may receive the emergencyalerts targeted to that geographical area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a method and system for geo-targeting emergency alerts toa geographic area.

FIG. 2 depicts a geo-target mapping methodology across variousgeographic areas (i.e., cell site, county, state, region).

FIG. 3 depicts a geo-target mapping methodology for a specified location(i.e., Location X)

FIG. 4 depicts an overall block diagram of an exemplary packet-basedmobile cellular network environment, such as a GPRS network, in whichthe system for providing alert messages based on a characteristic and/orconfiguration can be practiced.

FIG. 5 illustrates an architecture of a typical GPRS network assegmented into four groups.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example alternate block diagram of an exemplaryGSM/GPRS/IP multimedia network architecture in which alert messagesbased on a characteristic and/or configuration can be incorporated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

A wireless network may augment a telecommunications system bybroadcasting emergency messages from the telecommunications system tomobile stations associated with the wireless network. Disclosed hereinis a method and system of incorporating geo-targeting into atelecommunications system such that mobile device users that are in anaffected geographical area may receive notification of an emergencyevent. A geo-targeting mapping module may verify whether or not thetelecommunications system that services a particular geographic area iscapable of broadcasting emergency alerts. For example, the module mayidentify the Cell Site IDs in the geographic area that have broadcasttechnology, and what type of broadcast technology is supported in thatgeographic area.

The geo-target mapping module can provide broadcast capabilityinformation for a geographic area of any magnitude, small or large.Delivering alerts via the geo-targeting technique provides thecapability of identifying a more granulated alerting area based on theemergency event. For example, if a shooting occurs on a college campus,students within the geographical limits of a college campus may receivethe alerts on their mobile device via geo-targeting.

In the discussion that follows, details relating to mobile devices andnetworks are assumed to be well known. Accordingly, such details arelargely omitted herein for the sake of clarity and explanation. Inaddition, any references herein to an example embodiment involving acellular telephone is solely for purposes of explanation, and is notintended to limit the invention to any such embodiment. For example, amobile device as contemplated by various embodiments of the inventionmay include, but are not limited to: cellular telephones, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), email devices and the like. The mobile devicemay operate in a cellular, SMR, PCS, cordless, unlicensed AWS, 700 MHz,or other spectrums. Furthermore, embodiments are not limited by thenetwork servicing the device. Accordingly, embodiments may be applicableto any network type including, for example, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM,WiFi, WiMAX, OFDM, UMTS, EV-DO, HSDPA/HSUPA and other standards nowknown or to be developed in the future.

An example system for distributing emergency alerts in the United Statesis an Emergency Alert System (EAS) that was implemented by the FederalCommunication Commission (FCC), National Weather Service (NWS), andFederal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). The United StatesEAS is designed to provide messages from multiple origination points(e.g., county, state, federal). For example, the president can use theEAS to send a nationwide emergency alert message. The FCC providesinformation to broadcasters, cable system operators, and state and localemergency managers. The EAS typically provides messages indicative of avariety of types of alerts including, for example, weather conditions,disasters, America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER)alerts, and/or alerts issued by the Government, for example. EASmessages may be provided to, for example, a mobile device of a user suchthat the EAS alert message may be broadcast to the user via the mobiledevice. Any references herein to an example embodiment involving the EASis solely for purposes of explanation, and is not intended to limit theinvention to any such embodiment. Any type of emergency alert system mayuse the disclosed techniques.

FIG. 1 depicts an example EAS system that broadcasts emergency alertsand incorporates a geo-target mapping module 118. In this example, thewireless broadcast network 116 is a cellular network and the mobiledevices 124, 126 that may receive the broadcast are cellular telephones.

An alert message initiator 108 may generate and provide an EAS alertmessage at 86 to an emergency alert network 110. The alert messageinitiator 108 may be, for example, a first responder to a scene (e.g.,fire fighter, police officer, emergency medical technician, etc.), thelocal government, an agency (e.g., National Weather Service), anemergency manager of an entity (e.g., designated person in the emergencycenter of a hospital or campus), an automated system (e.g., a firealarm, electronic sensors that detect toxic gas), an EmergencyOperations Center (EOC), an on-site Incident Commander, public utility,or the like. For example, there may be an origination point at thefederal level for national warnings, and a designated emergency managermay have the authorization to request that an emergency alert bebroadcast. Counties and local governments may have their own emergencymanagement organization to serve counties and local tribunals, with anemergency manager at the county or local level that has theauthorization to initiate a request for transmission of an emergencyalert. Campuses may have a point of contact to support emergencymanagement for a university that are authorized to request transmissionof emergency alerts. Depending on the level, different levels ofauthorization may be granted. The emergency manager may be limited torequesting emergency alert transmission to a select area.

The EAS alert message may contain information about the emergency event,such as location, severity, type, etc. The alert message may includegeneral alert types such as general weather alerts, general naturaldisaster alerts, general government alerts, or the like, and/or specificalert types such as a child abduction (e.g., AMBER), geophysical (e.g.,landslide), meteorological (e.g., windstorms, tornados, hurricanes,tsunamis, lighting storms, thunderstorms, freezing rain, blizzards,fog), general emergency and public safety, law enforcement, military,homeland and local/private security, rescue and recovery, firesuppression and rescue, medical and public health, pollution and otherenvironmental conditions, public and private transportation, utility,telecommunication, other non-transport infrastructure, CBRNE (Chemical,Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or Explosive) threat or attack and/orsystem test, or the like. The alert message may also include alertsecurity levels such as warnings, watches, advisories, or the like thatmay be associated with each alert type, for example.

EAS alert messages are provided, at 88, via the emergency alert network110, to the emergency alert server 112. The emergency alert server 112may be part of an Emergency Operations Center 111. An operator 113,emergency alert server 112, or other entity capable of handling thealert message may handle the alert message at the Emergency OperationsCenter 111. For example, upon receipt of the alert message, theemergency alert server 112 may validate the credentials of the alertmessage source. The operator 113, for example, may determine theseverity of the emergency and determine whether the correspondingemergency alert, such as an EAS alert, should be broadcast, and if so,to what areas.

The relevant geographic area affected by the emergency event may bedetermined in a number of ways, such as by the emergency alert initiator108, the emergency alert network 110, or in the Emergency OperationsCenter 111, for example. The geographic area could be described in termsof a landmark, a latitude/longitude, a selected location on a devicethat transmits the alert message, or the like. The affected geographicarea may be a specified distance from a specific location provided inthe alert message. For example, where there has been a chemical spill,the affected geographical area may be a specified range from a specificlocation. The alert message initiator 108, such as the first responder,could provide the range in the alert message to the emergency alertnetwork 110 at 86, and base the geographic area on a range around aspill location that it is unsafe for humans. Alternately, the emergencyalert network 110 or the Emergency Operations Center 111 may analyze thetype of emergency and the location and provide the alert message with aspecified affected geographical area.

The alert messages maybe provided by the emergency alert server 112 tothe broadcast server 114, at 90. The broadcast server 114 can thenprovide all of the alert messages to the wireless broadcast network 116at 92. The wireless broadcast network 116 can be any type ofcommunication network including the example networks described below inFIGS. 4-6, for example. Additionally, the wireless broadcast network 116can be operated by a network provider. For example, an organization,corporation, association, or the like, for example, a mobilecommunications provider such as Verizon Corporation, Sprint Corporation,AT&T Corporation, T-Mobile Corporation, and the like, can broadcastemergency alerts to a geographic region covered by applicable cellularcommunication towers of the cellular radio network. The mobile devicesthat receive the alert may be those that are subscribers to thecommunications service provider. However, the mobile devices thatreceive the alert may be any of those in range of the broadcastedemergency alerts that are capable of wireless reception. Users may optin or out of receiving emergency alerts, or they may select the types ofemergency alerts they would like to receive.

In an example embodiment, the geo-target mapping module 118 may beincorporated into the telecommunications server. The geo-target mappingmodule 118 may be incorporated into the Emergency Operations Center 111,the broadcast server 114, or the wireless broadcast network 116, forexample. Alternately, the geo-target mapping module 118 may bemaintained separately from these entities. Any of 111, 112, 114, 116 mayaccess the geo-target mapping module 118 to determine which componentsof the telecommunications system, such as specific cell towers, can beused to broadcast alert messages. For example, the emergency alertserver 112 may provide a request to the geo-target mapping module 118for the cell IDs (cell sites) associated with an identified geographicarea. As described in more detail below, the geo-target mapping module118 may identify the set of cell sites in the affected geographic areathat support wireless emergency alerts and which have broadcasttechnologies.

The geo-target mapping module 118 may determine the broadcast capabilityof each cell site in accordance with any appropriate means, such asrequesting the broadcast capability of each cell site from anappropriate processor. For example, the base station controller shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 may maintain information about the cell sites by datarouted from the base transceiver stations. The geo-targeting mappingmodule 118 may query the cell site, access a database, request, orotherwise determine the information about each cell site and use it todetermine cell site broadcast capabilities for an affected geographicregion. In another example, the information for each cell site isobtained from a wireless operator who owns each cell site.

At 92, the broadcast server 114 can provide the alert messages to thewireless broadcast network 116. The network 116 may include any type ofcommunication network such as the internet, a Local Area Network (LAN),a Wide Area Network (WAN), a cellular telephone, or the like. Forexample, the network 116 may include the example networks describedbelow in FIGS. 4-6 such as GSM, UMTS, CDMA, WiFi, WiMax, EDGE, or thelike. The network 116 may be operated by a network provider such as aninternet service provider, a cellular telephone provider, or the like.According to an example embodiment, the network provider may offerbandwidth and/or network access to subscribers thereof to enablecommunication between the subscribers and other devices such as cellularphones, PDAs, PCs, Voice over Internet Protocol devices, analogtelephone devices, or the like. The mobile devices that receive thealert may be those that are subscribers to the communications serviceprovider. The emergency alerts may also be formatted to be received byany mobile device that is capable of wireless reception.

The broadcast server 114 may instruct the wireless broadcast network totransmit the emergency alerts. The instructions may include the cellsites to broadcast from based on the cell site information obtained fromthe geo-target mapping module 118. At 94, the wireless broadcast network116 can broadcast the alert messages to a geographic area using the cellsites identified by the geo-target mapping module 118. The wirelessbroadcast network 116 may then broadcast the emergency alerts in a rangethat covers the affected geographic area. In this example, at 94, thecell sites broadcast via a cellular network an emergency alert to mobiledevices, such as 122 and 124, that are in the covered geographic area.Any telecommunications component that transforms, transmits, orprocesses information in connection with a broadcast, or otherwisefacilitates the broadcast of information, may broadcast suchinformation. The network provider can offer bandwidth and/or networkaccess to its subscribers to enable communication between subscribersand other users of electronic devices and/or mobile devices such ascellular phones, PDAs, PCs, Voice over Internet Protocol devices, analogtelephone devices, or the like.

Each of the emergency alert server 112, the broadcast server 114, themobile device 124, the broadcast processor 119, and the EAS processor120 can comprise any appropriate type of processor. Example processorscan be implemented in a single processor or multiple processors.Multiple processors can be distributed or centrally located. Multipleprocessors can communicate wirelessly, via hard wire, or a combinationthereof. Examples processors include mobile communications devices,mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), lap topcomputers, handheld processors, or a combination thereof The EASprocessor 120 and the broadcast processor 119 can be implemented as asingle processor, separate processors, distributed processors, or acombination thereof. The emergency alert server 112 and the broadcastserver 114 can be implemented as a single processor, separateprocessors, distributed processors, or a combination thereof.

Mobile devices 122 and 124 may be representative of any appropriate typeof device that may be utilized to receive an alert message and/or renderand output the alert message in a suitable format to the subscriber. Forexample, in one embodiment, the device 122 may be any type of receiveror transceiver device with broadcast reception capabilities (e.g., cellphone, pager, FDA, PC, modem, router, gateway, specialized broadcastreceiving device, first responder Mobile Data Terminal (MDT), FM/AMradio, NOAA weather radio, Land Mobile Radio (LMR), satellite radioreceiver, satellite phone and television).

According to other example embodiments, devices 122 or 124 may also beany appropriate mobile device, such as, for example, a portable device,a variety of computing devices including (a) a portable media player,e.g., a portable music player, such as an MP3 player, a walkman, etc.,(b) a portable computing device, such as a laptop, a personal digitalassistant (“PDA”), a portable phone, such as a cell phone of the like, asmart phone, a Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) phone, a video phone, aportable email device, a thin client, a portable gaining device, etc.,(c) consumer electronic devices, such as TVs, DVD players, set topboxes, monitors, displays, etc., (d) a public computing device, such asa kiosk, an in-store musical sampling device, an automated tellermachine (ATM), a cash register, etc., (e) a navigation device whetherportable or installed in-vehicle and/or (f) a non-conventional computingdevice, such as a kitchen appliance, a motor vehicle control (e.g.,steering wheel), etc., or a combination thereof.

The mobile devices that are within range from the broadcasting cellsites may receive the emergency alert. The mobile devices that receivethe alert may only be those of users that subscribe to a particularwireless service. However, the alerts may be formatted such that mobiledevices may receive the alert regardless of their service provider.Mobile device users 123 and 125 may then be warned via the emergencyalert via their mobile devices, 122 and 124.

FIG. 2 is an example of the mapping of a geo-targeting mapping module118 used to determine the cell sites that support broadcast technologyfor different geographic areas. The geographic areas may be defined invarious ways. For example, the geographic area could be a city block, acollege campus, a shopping center, a nuclear power plant, aprivately-owned building or property, a government building or property,a zip code, a township, a county, a state, a region, a nation, or alocation and a range from that location, etc. The geographic areaaffected by an emergency event may be provided to the geo-target mappingmodule 118, such as by the emergency alert initiator 108 or theemergency alert server 112, for example. The geo-target mapping module118 may identify the cell site or cell sites that are capable ofbroadcasting emergency alert messages to the affected geographic area,The geo-target mapping module 118 may maintain, store, or access cellsite information and identify the cell sites based on the correspondinggeographical areas for which they belong.

FIG. 2 provides an example of geo-targeting that starts with the cellsite level. The geographic areas (i.e., based on the cell site level,the county level, the state level, the region level, etc.), are eachrepresented by a table (i.e., Cell Site Table 202, County Table 204,Region by County Table 206, and Region by State Table 208. However, thegeographic area may be reduced to a more granular geographic area, suchas a college campus, or a more broad area, such as a country. Thus, thegeo-target mapping module 118 may geo-target various geographic areasbased on various geographic areas, and map the relationship of thosegeographic areas.

The cell sites in each geographic area maybe identified in Table 202 atthe cell site level by a Cell Site ID. The table entry associated to theCell Site identity (ID) may include an indication of whether or not thecell site has RF coverage, if the cell site supports wireless emergencyalerts, if the cell site has broadcast capabilities for wirelessemergency alerts, and any specific broadcasting technologies that thecell site supports.

Geo-targeting may be accomplished at the cell site level to build theset of cell sites for each broadcast technology. As shown in FIG. 2,Cell Site Table 202 may identify the cell sites and their associatedcapabilities related to the support of wireless emergency alerts. TheCell Site Table includes a Cell Site ID that uniquely identifies thecell site. The Cell Site ID may be a numeric value, an alphabetic value,or an alphanumeric value and may be created by the wireless operator whoowns the cell site. The Cell Site Table may indicate whether or notwireless emergency alerts are supported by this particular cell site(corresponding to the Cell Site ID) and what broadcast technologiescould be available at the cell site. For example, Broadcast Technology#1 could be Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) and Broadcast Technology #2could be MBMS. The tables could include any candidate broadcasttechnology (e.g., MediaFLO, DVB-H, etc.). For each broadcast technologythat is supported by the particular cell site, the Cell Site ID may beincluded in a list of cell sites for that technology.

The County Table 204 identifies the cell sites which provide RF coveragewithin a county, and provides a link between the specified county andthe county's state. Table entries for any specific county may includeboth the cell sites located within the county and the cell sites whichare located outside of the county, but have RF coverage within at leasta part of the county. The relationship between the County Table and theCell Site Table may be maintained via the Cell Site ID.

Geo-targeting may be accomplished at the county level to build the setof cell sites for each broadcast technology that correspond to thecounty. The County Table 204 demonstrates a table for access toinformation about the cell sites in the county that support broadcasttechnology. The County ID may identify a county within a state. TheCounty ID could be a county name, the county abbreviation, or thenumeric country code value defined in the Federal Information ProcessingStandard 6-4 (FIPS 6-4), for example. The County ID is generally onlyunique on a state level.

The “Wireless Emergency Alerts Supported” attribute for the County Table204 may be maintained to improve the efficiency of the returninformation from the geo-target mapping module 118. For example, ifwireless emergency alerts are not supported within a specific county,this attribute could be set to “N” and there would be no reason toextract and evaluate entries from the Cell Site Table. For eachbroadcast technology that is supported by the particular cell site, theCell Site ID may be included in a list of cell sites for that technologyfor that county.

An example scenario that may benefit from geo-targeting an emergencyalert at the county level is if a tornado is traveling towards orthrough a region, and a particular geographic area covered by the countyis at risk. The county emergency manager, or other designated emergencyalert initiator 108, may want to alert the individuals in the county assoon as possible to provide the opportunity for the individuals toretreat to safety. Because so many people carry mobile devices,broadcasting an emergency alert that may be received by mobile devicesmay be the most efficient and immediate way to reach the most people inthe county. To determine if the county has any broadcastingcapabilities, the emergency alert system, such as that shown in FIG. 1,may request information from the geo-target mapping module 118.

The geo-target mapping module 118 may access the information from theCounty Table 204 to determine if the county has any broadcastingcapabilities. The determination can be made without having to evaluateeach cell site individually. If the county does or does not have anycapabilities of emergency alert broadcasts, the determination can bemade quickly. The factor of time may be crucial when confronted with anemergency. If the county does have broadcast capabilities, for example,the geo-target mapping module 118 may extract the emergency alertbroadcasting capabilities from the Cell Site Table 202. The emergencyalert broadcasting capabilities for the cell sites relevant to thegeographic area covered by the county may be easily accessible, such asthrough a database maintained by the geo-target mapping module 118. Ifthe geo-target mapping module 118 determines that the county is capableof broadcasting emergency alerts, then the information may be extractedfrom the Cell Site Table 202. Alternately, the geo-target mapping module118 may request information from cell sites to update the database.During times of non-emergency, the geo-target mapping module 118 maycontinuously update a database of various cell sites relevant to variousgeographic areas, and indicate the emergency alert broadcastcapabilities for each cell site.

The Cell Site IDs that are identified in County Table 204 as havingemergency alert broadcasting capabilities may be used to extractinformation for each cell site from the Cell Site Table 202. As shown inFIG. 2, the various broadcasting technologies supported by each cellsite can be identified. Thus, not only can the geo-target mapping module118 determine the specific cell sites that are available in the countyfor broadcasting emergency alerts, the types of broadcasting technologymay be identified. The type of information in the Cell Site Table 202could be any information that would support the determination of thebroadcasting capabilities for any cell sites.

If one cell site in the county supports wireless emergency alerts, theCell Site ID may be extracted from the Cell Site Table 202. Thus, evenif an emergency alert could only be broadcast from one cell site in thecounty, the information can be easily obtained and returned by thegeo-target mapping module 118 by the method depicted in FIG. 2. Thesupporting cell site may be selected for broadcasting the alert, even ifthe entire affected geographic area may not receive the broadcast.However, a portion of the affected geographic area within range of thesupporting cell site may receive the emergency alert. Alternately, anumber of cell sites may be capable of broadcasting emergency alerts tothe affected geographic region, and only a select number of those cellsites may be selected for the broadcast. For example, cell sites thatbroadcast to overlapping geographic areas may not all be necessary forthe broadcast of the emergency alert.

Geo-targeting may be accomplished at the state level to build the set ofcell sites for each broadcast technology that correspond to the state.In FIG. 2, geo-targeting at the state level is accomplished via theCounty Table 204, although other mapping methodologies are contemplated.One or more counties may be identified and maintained that correspond toa state. For example, the County Table 204 depicts a table for access toinformation about the cell sites in each county, corresponding to theCounty ID, for each state, corresponding to a State ID. There may bemultiple table County ID table entries that correspond to the same State1D. Each Cell Site 1D may be extracted for each County ID that supportswireless emergency alerts, and each County ID for a particular State IDmay be identified to geo-target all of the cell sites for a particularstate. The State ID may identify the state or other associated area(e.g., District of Columbia). The State ID could be the state name, thestate abbreviation, or the numeric state code value defined in theFederal Information Processing Standard 5-2 (FIPS 5-2), for example. TheState-County ID uniquely identifies any specific county in the nationand may be composed of the concatenation of the State ID and the CountyID.

The “Wireless Emergency Alerts Supported” attribute for the County Table204 may be maintained to improve the efficiency of the returninformation from the geo-target mapping module 118. For example, ifwireless emergency alerts are not supported within a specific county,this attribute could be set to “N” and there would be no reason toextract and evaluate entries from the Cell Site Table. For eachbroadcast technology that is supported by the particular cell site, theCell Site ID may be included in a list of cell sites for that technologyfor that county for each state.

The technique for geo-targeting based on geographic areas in FIG. 2include geo-targeting at the Region by County level to build the set ofcell sites for each broadcast technology that correspond to the region.The Regions by County Table 206 may be maintained with an identificationof which counties in which states are contained within the areaindicated by the Region by County ID. The Region by County ID identifiesthe region that is defined on a county basis (e.g., the National CapitalRegion of the nation's capital includes the District of Columbia,selected counties of Virginia, and selected counties of Maryland). Therelationship between the Region by County Table and the County Table isvia the State-County ID. If a County ID in the Region by County Table206 is identified in the County Table 204 as supporting wirelessemergency alerts, then the cell site information may be extracted fromthe Cell Site Table based on the Cell Site ID from the County Table 204.

The technique for geo-targeting based on geographic areas in FIG. 2include geo-targeting at the Region by State level to build the set ofcell sites for each broadcast technology that correspond to the state.The Region by State ID identifies the region that is defined on a statebasis. For example, a FEMA region may be defined by a set of states(e.g., FEMA Region 3 is the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland,Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). The Regions by State Table208 may be maintained with an identification of which states arecontained within the region, as indicated by the Region by State ID. Forexample, FEMA regions could be defined via this table. The relationshipbetween the Region by State Table and the County Table is via the StateID.

FIG. 2 depicts the geo-target mapping information in relational tables.However, any method may be used to collect this information, such as onemassive flat table, a series of tables as shown, a combined table foreach geographical grouping, or a relational database such as an SQLbased database. FIG. 2 depicts the mapping methodology for an examplesubset of geographic areas (i.e., the cell site level, the county level,the state level, the region level, etc.), each represented by a table(i.e., Cell Site Table 202, County Table 204, Region by County Table206, and Region by State Table 208). By geo-targeting at the cell sitelevel to build the set of cell sites for each broadcast technology,geo-targeting may be accomplished for any location based on a similarschema as shown in FIG. 2. The geographic areas could be designated forgeographic areas that are both smaller and larger than the examplesshown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 depicts the geo-targeting of a geographic area,where the geographic area is designated as Location X. Location X couldbe any area defined as any geographical area, such as a nuclear powerplant location, the boundaries of a college campus, a city block orblocks, an area surrounding a body of water, or any other select area.

Geo-targeting at the location X geographic area may be accomplished atthe “Location X” level to build the set of cell sites for each broadcasttechnology that correspond to Location X. For example, a college campusmay be subject to an emergency event, such as a shooting on or aroundcampus. The emergency alert initiator 108, from FIG. 1, could be anauthorized emergency manager at a college campus. The geo-target mappingmodule 118 may be used to geo-target the college campus, particularlythe affected geographic area that may be defined by the boundaries ofthe college campus.

Referencing the Location X Table 302, the Location X ID may identify thecollege campus and its boundaries. Similar to other locations, aLocation X ID may be assigned to particular locations and be used aspart of the geo-targeting technique. For example, the Location X ID forthe college campus may be maintained as a code list prepared by the FCCfor college campuses.

A Cell Site Table 202, also shown in FIG. 2, may identify both the cellsites within the affected geographic area defined by Location X and eachcell site's associated capabilities related to the support of wirelessemergency alerts. The Cell Site Table 202 includes a Cell Site ID thatuniquely identifies the cell site. The Cell Site ID may be a numericvalue, an alphabetic value, or an alphanumeric value and may be createdby the wireless operator who owns the cell site. The Cell Site Table mayindicate whether or not wireless emergency alerts are supported by thisparticular cell site (corresponding to the Cell Site ID) and whatbroadcast technologies could be available at the cell site. For example,Broadcast Technology #1 could be Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) andBroadcast Technology #2 could be MBMS. The tables could include anycandidate broadcast technology (e.g., MediaFLO, DVB-H, etc.). For eachbroadcast technology that is supported by the particular cell site, theCell Site ID may be included in a list of cell sites for thattechnology.

Table entries for the Cell Site ID in Location X Table may include thecell sites located within the identified boundaries and the cell siteswhich are located outside of the identified boundaries, but have RFcoverage within at least a part of the affected geographic area. The“Wireless Emergency Alerts Supported” attribute for the Location X Table204 may be maintained to improve the efficiency of the returninformation from the geo-target mapping module 118. For example, ifwireless emergency alerts are not supported within a specific county,this attribute could be set to “N” and there would be no reason toextract and evaluate entries from the Cell Site Table. For eachbroadcast technology that is supported by the particular cell site, theCell Site ID may be included in a list of cell sites for that technologyfor that county for each state.

Thus, if there is a request for an emergency alert to be provided to ageographic area affected by an emergency event, the cell sites that cansupport the broadcast of the emergency alerts may be mapped, maintained,and accessed in the manner disclosed herein. Geo-targeting for any sizegeographic areas such that emergency messages may be delivered to mobileand static devices of different types in a localized area provide for anemergency alert system that pinpoints an affected geographic area andprovides alerts that may be received by mobile devices in the geographicarea. The geo-target mapping module 118 identifies the cell sites forwhich broadcasting from the cell sites may cover, all or in part, ageographic area that is affected by the emergency event.

The following description sets forth some exemplary telephony radionetworks and non-limiting operating environments for providing anotification of an EAS alert message using a personal area network. Thebelow-described operating environments should be considerednon-exhaustive, however, and thus the below-described networkarchitectures merely show how the services of the notification systemfor alerting users of portable devices of emergencies may beincorporated into existing network structures and architectures. It canbe appreciated, however, that the notification system for alerting usersof portable devices of emergencies can be incorporated into existingand/or future alternative architectures for communication networks aswell.

The global system for mobile communication (GSM) is one of the mostwidely utilized wireless access systems in today's fast growingcommunication environment. The GSM provides circuit-switched dataservices to subscribers, such as mobile telephone or computer users. TheGeneral Packet Radio Service (GPRS), which is an extension to GSMtechnology, introduces packet switching to GSM networks. The GPRS uses apacket-based wireless communication technology to transfer high and lowspeed data and signaling in an efficient manner. The GPRS attempts tooptimize the use of network and radio resources, thus enabling the costeffective and efficient use of GSM network resources for packet modeapplications.

As can be appreciated, the exemplary GSM/GPRS environment and servicesdescribed herein also can be extended to 3G services, such as UniversalMobile Telephone System (UNITS), Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) andTime Division Duplexing (TDD), High Speed Packet Data Access (HSPDA),cdma2000 1x Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO), Code Division MultipleAccess-2000 (cdma2000 3x), Time Division Synchronous Code DivisionMultiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access(WCDMA), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), International MobileTelecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000), Digital Enhanced CordlessTelecommunications (DECT), etc., as well as to other network servicesthat become available in time. In this regard, the techniques of thegeo-target mapping module 118 can be applied independently of the methodof data transport, and do not depend on any particular networkarchitecture, or underlying protocols.

FIG. 4 depicts an overall block diagram of an example packet-basedmobile cellular network environment, such as a GPRS network, in whichgeo-target mapping can be practiced. In an example configuration, thereare a plurality of Base Station Subsystems (BSS) 400 (only one isshown), each of which comprises a Base Station Controller (BSC) 402serving a plurality of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) such as BTSs 404,406, and 408. BTSs 404, 406, 408, etc. are the access points where usersof packet-based mobile devices (e.g., WCD 102) become connected to thewireless network. In exemplary fashion, the packet traffic originatingfrom user devices (e.g., WCD 102) is transported via an over-the-airinterface to a BTS 408, and from the BTS 408 to the BSC 402. Basestation subsystems, such as BSS 400, are a part of internal frame relaynetwork 410 that can include Service GPRS Support Nodes (SGSN) such asSGSN 412 and 414. Each SGSN is connected to an internal packet network420 through which a SGSN 412, 414, etc. can route data packets to andfrom a plurality of gateway GPRS support nodes (GGSN) 422, 424, 426,etc. As illustrated, SGSN 414 and GGSNs 422, 424, and 426 are part ofinternal packet network 420. Gateway GPRS serving nodes 422, 424 and 426mainly provide an interface to external Internet Protocol (IP) networkssuch as Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) 450, corporate intranets 440,or Fixed-End System (FES) or the public Internet 430. As illustrated,subscriber corporate network 440 may be connected to GGSN 424 viafirewall 432; and PLMN 450 is connected to GGSN 424 via boarder gatewayrouter 434. The Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)server 442 may be used for caller authentication when a user of a mobilecellular device calls corporate network 440.

Generally, there can be four different cell sizes in a GSM network,referred to as macro, micro, pico, and umbrella cells. The coverage areaof each cell is different in different environments. Macro cells can beregarded as cells in which the base station antenna is installed in amast or a building above average roof top level. Micro cells are cellswhose antenna height is under average roof top level. Micro-cells aretypically used in urban areas. Pico cells are small cells having adiameter of a few dozen meters. Pico cells are used mainly indoors. Onthe other hand, umbrella cells are used to cover shadowed regions ofsmaller cells and fill in gaps in coverage between those cells.

FIG. 5 illustrates an architecture of a typical GPRS network assegmented into four groups: users 550, radio access network 560, corenetwork 570, and interconnect network 580. Users 550 comprise aplurality of end users (though only mobile subscriber 555 is shown inFIG. 5). In an example embodiment, the device depicted as mobilesubscriber 555 comprises the WCD 102. Radio access network 560 comprisesa plurality of base station subsystems such as BSSs 562, which includeBTSs 564 and BSCs 566. Core network 570 comprises a host of variousnetwork elements. As illustrated in FIG. 5, core network 570 maycomprise Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 571, Service Control Point (SCP)572, gateway MSC 573, SGSN 576, Home Location Register (HLR) 574,Authentication Center (AuC) 575, Domain Name Server (DNS) 577, and GGSN578. Interconnect network 580 also comprises a host of various networksand other network elements. As illustrated in FIG. 5, interconnectnetwork 580 comprises Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 582,Fixed-End System (FES) or Internet 584, firewall 588, and CorporateNetwork 589.

mobile switching center can be connected to a large number of basestation controllers. At MSC 571, for instance, depending on the type oftraffic, the traffic may be separated in that voice may be sent toPublic Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 582 through Gateway MSC (GMSC)573, and/or data may be sent to SGSN 576, which then sends the datatraffic to GGSN 578 for further forwarding.

When MSC 571 receives call traffic, for example, from BSC 566, it sendsa query to a database hosted by SCP 572. The SCP 572 processes therequest and issues a response to MSC 571 so that it may continue callprocessing as appropriate. 33 The HLR 574 is a centralized database forusers to register to the GPRS network. HLR 574 stores static informationabout the subscribers such as the International Mobile SubscriberIdentity (IMSI), subscribed services, and a key for authenticating thesubscriber. HLR 574 also stores dynamic subscriber information such asthe current location of the mobile subscriber. Associated with HLR 574is AuC 575. AuC 575 is a database that contains the algorithms forauthenticating subscribers and includes the associated keys forencryption to safeguard the user input for authentication.

In this disclosure, depending on context, the term mobile device usermay be a subscriber, and either reference may sometimes refers to theend user and sometimes to the actual portable device, such as the WCD102, used by an end user of the mobile cellular service. When a mobilesubscriber turns on his or her mobile device, the mobile device goesthrough an attach process by which the mobile device attaches to an SGSNof the GPRS network. In FIG. 5, when mobile subscriber 555 initiates theattach process by turning on the network capabilities of the mobiledevice, an attach request is sent by mobile subscriber 555 to SGSN 576.The SGSN 576 queries another SGSN, to which mobile subscriber 555 wasattached before, for the identity of mobile subscriber 555. Uponreceiving the identity of mobile subscriber 555 from the other SGSN,SGSN 576 requests more information from mobile subscriber 555. Thisinformation is used to authenticate mobile subscriber 555 to SGSN 576 byHLR 574. Once verified, SGSN 576 sends a location update to HLR 574indicating the change of location to a new SGSN, in this case SGSN 576.HLR 574 notifies the old SGSN, to which mobile subscriber 555 wasattached before, to cancel the location process for mobile subscriber555. HLR 574 then notifies SGSN 576 that the location update has beenperformed. At this time, SGSN 576 sends an Attach Accept message tomobile subscriber 555, which in turn sends an Attach Complete message toSGSN 576.

After attaching itself with the network, mobile subscriber 555 then goesthrough the authentication process. In the authentication process, SGSN576 sends the authentication information to HLR 574, which sendsinformation back to SGSN 576 based on the user profile that was part ofthe user's initial setup. The SGSN 576 then sends a request forauthentication and ciphering to mobile subscriber 555. The mobilesubscriber 555 uses an algorithm to send the user identification (ID)and password to SGSN 576. The SGSN 576 uses the same algorithm andcompares the result. If a match occurs, SGSN 576 authenticates mobilesubscriber 555. 36 Next, the mobile subscriber 555 establishes a usersession with the destination network, corporate network 589, by goingthrough a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) activation process.

Briefly, in the process, mobile subscriber 555 requests access to theAccess Point Name (APN), for example, UPS.com (e.g., which can becorporate network 589 in FIG. 3) and SGSN 576 receives the activationrequest from mobile subscriber 555. SGSN 576 then initiates a DomainName Service (DNS) query to learn which GGSN node has access to theUPS.com APN. The DNS query is sent to the DNS server within the corenetwork 570, such as DNS 577, which is provisioned to map to one or moreGGSN nodes in the core network 570. Based on the APN, the mapped GGSN578 can access the requested corporate network 589. The SGSN 576 thensends to GGSN 578 a Create Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context Requestmessage that contains necessary information. The GGSN 578 sends a CreatePDP Context Response message to SGSN 576, which then sends an ActivatePDP Context Accept message to mobile subscriber 555.

Once activated, data packets of the call made by mobile subscriber 555can then go through radio access network 560, core network 570, andinterconnect network 580, in a particular fixed-end system or Internet584 and firewall 588, to reach corporate network 589.

Thus, network elements can invoke the functionality of the EAS alertreporting in accordance with geo-target mapping, but they are notlimited to Gateway GPRS Support Node tables, Fixed End System routertables, firewall systems, VPN tunnels, and any number of other networkelements as required by the particular digital network.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary block diagram view of a GSM/GPRS/iPmultimedia network architecture 600 in which geo-target mapping may beincorporated. As illustrated, architecture 600 of FIG. 6 includes a GSMcore network 601, a GPRS network 630 and an IP multimedia network 638.The GSM core network 601 includes a Mobile Station (MS) 602, at leastone Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 604 and a Base Station Controller(BSC) 606. The MS 602 is physical equipment or Mobile Equipment (ME),such as a mobile phone or a laptop computer (e.g., portable device 20)that is used by mobile subscribers, with a Subscriber identity Module(SIM). The SIM includes an International Mobile Subscriber Identity(IMSI), which is a unique identifier of a subscriber. The BTS 604 isphysical equipment, such as a radio tower, that enables a radiointerface to communicate with the MS. Each BTS may serve more than oneMS. The BSC 606 manages radio resources, including the BTS. The BSC maybe connected to several BTSs. The BSC and BTS components, incombination, are generally referred to as a base station (BSS) or radioaccess network (RAN) 403.

The GSM core network 601 also includes a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)608, a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 610, a Home LocationRegister (HLR) 612, Visitor Location Register (VLR) 614, anAuthentication Center (AuC) 618, and an Equipment Identity Register(EIR) 616. The MSC 608 performs a switching function for the network.The MSC also performs other functions, such as registration,authentication, location updating, handovers, and call routing. The GMSC610 provides a gateway between the GSM network and other networks, suchas an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or Public SwitchedTelephone Networks (PSTNs) 620. Thus, the GMSC 610 provides interworkingfunctionality with external networks.

The HLR 612 is a database that contains administrative informationregarding each subscriber registered in a corresponding GSM network. TheHLR 612 also contains the current location of each MS. The VLR 614 is adatabase that contains selected administrative information from the HLR612. The VLR contains information necessary for call control andprovision of subscribed services for each MS currently located in ageographical area controlled by the VLR. The HLR 612 and the VLR 614,together with the MSC 608, provide the call routing and roamingcapabilities of GSM. The AuC 616 provides the parameters needed forauthentication and encryption functions. Such parameters allowverification of a subscriber's identity. The EIR 618 storessecurity-sensitive information about the mobile equipment.

A Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 609 allows one-to-one ShortMessage Service (SMS) messages to be sent to/from the MS 602. A PushProxy Gateway (PPG) 611 is used to “push” (i.e., send without asynchronous request) content to the MS 602. The PPG 611 acts as a proxybetween wired and wireless networks to facilitate pushing of data to theMS 602. A Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) protocol router 613 isprovided to convert SMS-based SMPP messages to cell broadcast messages.SMPP is a protocol for exchanging SMS messages between SMS peer entitiessuch as short message service centers. The SMPP protocol is often usedto allow third parties, e.g., content suppliers such as newsorganizations, to submit bulls messages.

To gain access to GSM services, such as speech, data, and short messageservice (SMS), the MS first registers with the network to indicate itscurrent location by performing a location update and IMSI attachprocedure. The MS 602 sends a location update including its currentlocation information to the MSC/VLR, via the BTS 604 and the BSC 606.The location information is then sent to the MS's HLR. The HLR isupdated with the location information received from the MSC/VLR. Thelocation update also is performed when the MS moves to a new locationarea. Typically, the location update is periodically performed to updatethe database as location updating events occur.

The GPRS network 630 is logically implemented on the GSM core networkarchitecture by introducing two packet-switching network nodes, aserving GPRS support node (SGSN) 632, a cell broadcast and a GatewayGPRS support node (GGSN) 634. The SGSN 632 is at the same hierarchicallevel as the MSC 608 in the GSM network. The SGSN controls theconnection between the GPRS network and the MS 602. The SGSN also keepstrack of individual MS's locations and security functions and accesscontrols.

A Cell Broadcast Center (CBC) 633 communicates cell broadcast messagesthat are typically delivered to multiple users in a specified area. CellBroadcast is one-to-many geographically focused service. It enablesmessages to be communicated to multiple mobile phone customers who arelocated within a given part of its network coverage area at the time themessage is broadcast.

The GGSN 634 provides a gateway between the GPRS network and a publicpacket network (PDN) or other IP networks 636. That is, the GGSNprovides interworking functionality with external networks, and sets upa logical link to the MS through the SGSN. When packet-switched dataleaves the GPRS network, it is transferred to an external TCP-IP network636, such as an X.25 network or the Internet. In order to access GPRSservices, the MS first attaches itself to the GPRS network, byperforming an attach procedure. The MS then activates a packet dataprotocol (PDP) context, thus activating a packet communication sessionbetween the MS, the SGSN, and the GGSN.

In a GSM/GPRS network, GPRS services and GSM services can be used inparallel. The MS can operate in one three classes: class A, class B, andclass C. A class A MS can attach to the network for both GPRS servicesand GSM services simultaneously. A class A MS also supports simultaneousoperation of GPRS services and GSM services. For example, class Amobiles can receive GSM voice/data/SMS calls and GPRS data calls at thesame time.

A class B MS can attach to the network for both GPRS services and GSMservices simultaneously. However, a class B MS does not supportsimultaneous operation of the GPRS services and GSM services. That is, aclass B MS can only use one of the two services at a given time.

A class C MS can attach for only one of the GPRS services and GSMservices at a time. Simultaneous attachment and operation of GPRSservices and GSM services is not possible with a class C MS.

A GPRS network 630 can be designed to operate in three network operationmodes (NOM1, NOM2 and NOM3). A network operation mode of a GPRS networkis indicated by a parameter in system information messages transmittedwithin a cell. The system information messages dictates a MS where tolisten for paging messages and how signal towards the network. Thenetwork operation mode represents the capabilities of the GPRS network.In a NOM 1 network, a MS can receive pages from a circuit switcheddomain (voice call) when engaged in a data call. The MS can suspend thedata call or take both simultaneously, depending on the ability of theMS. In a NOM2 network, a MS may not receive pages from a circuitswitched domain when engaged in a data call, since the MS is receivingdata and is not listening to a paging channel In a NOM3 network, a MScan monitor pages for a circuit switched network while received data andvice versa.

The IP multimedia network 638 was introduced with 3GPP Release 5, andincludes an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) 640 to provide rich multimediaservices to end users. A representative set of the network entitieswithin the IMS 640 are a call/session control function (CSCF), a mediagateway control function (MGCF) 646, a media gateway (MGW) 648, and amaster subscriber database, called a home subscriber server (HSS) 650.The HSS 650 may be common to the GSM network 601, the GPRS network 630as well as the IP multimedia network 638.

The IP multimedia system 640 is built around the call/session controlfunction, of which there are three types: an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)643, a proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) 642, and a serving CSCF (S-CSCF) 644. TheP-CSCF 642 is the MS's first point of contact with the IMS 640. TheP-CSCF 642 forwards session initiation protocol (SIP) messages receivedfrom the MS to an SIP server in a home network (and vice versa) of theMS. The P-CSCF 642 may also modify an outgoing request according to aset of rules defined by the network operator (for example, addressanalysis and potential modification).

The I-CSCF 643, forms an entrance to a home network and hides the innertopology of the home network from other networks and providesflexibility for selecting an S-CSCF. The I-CSCF 643 may contact asubscriber location function (SLF) 645 to determine which HSS 650 to usefor the particular subscriber, if multiple HSS's 650 are present. TheS-CSCF 644 performs the session control services for the MS 602. Thisincludes routing originating sessions to external networks and routingterminating sessions to visited networks. The S-CSCF 644 also decideswhether an application server (AS) 652 is required to receiveinformation on an incoming SIP session request to ensure appropriateservice handling. This decision is based on information received fromthe HSS 650 (or other sources, such as an application server 652). TheAS 652 also communicates to a location server 656 (e.g., a GatewayMobile Location Center (GMLC)) that provides a position (e.g.,latitude/longitude coordinates) of the MS 602.

The HSS 650 contains a subscriber profile and keeps track of which corenetwork node is currently handling the subscriber. It also supportssubscriber authentication and authorization functions (AAA). In networkswith more than one HSS 650, a subscriber location function providesinformation on the HSS 650 that contains the profile of a givensubscriber.

The MGCF 646 provides interworking functionality between SIP sessioncontrol signaling from the IMS 640 and ISUP/BICC call control signalingfrom the external GSTN networks (not shown). It also controls the mediagateway (MGW) 648 that provides user-plane interworking functionality(e.g., converting between AMR- and PCM-coded voice). The MGW 648 alsocommunicates with other IP multimedia networks 654.

Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) capable mobile phones register with thewireless network when the phones are in a predefined area (e.g., jobsite, etc.). When the mobile phones leave the area, they register withthe network in their new location as being outside the predefined area.This registration, however, does not indicate the actual physicallocation of the mobile phones outside the pre-defined area.

While example embodiments of a notification system for alerting users ofwireless communication devices of emergencies using a personal areanetwork compatible accessory have been described in connection withvarious computing devices, the underlying concepts can be applied to anycomputing device or system capable of providing a notification foralerting users of portable devices of emergencies. The varioustechniques described herein can be implemented in connection withhardware or software or, where appropriate, with a combination of both.Thus, the methods and apparatus for a notification system for alertingusers of portable devices of emergencies, or certain aspects or portionsthereof, can take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodiedin tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, orany other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the programcode is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, themachine becomes an apparatus for providing a notification for alertingusers of portable devices of emergencies. In the case of program codeexecution on programmable computers, the computing device will generallyinclude a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor(including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), atleast one input device, and at least one output device. The program(s)can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In anycase, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language, andcombined with hardware implementations.

The methods and apparatus for a notification system for alerting usersof wireless communication devices of emergencies using a personal areanetwork compatible accessory also can be practiced via communicationsembodied in the form of program code that is transmitted over sometransmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, throughfiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when theprogram code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, suchas an EPROM, a gate array, a programmable logic device (PLD), a clientcomputer, or the like, the machine becomes an apparatus for anotification system for alerting users of wireless communication devicesof emergencies using a personal area network compatible accessory. Whenimplemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combineswith the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates to invokethe functionality of a notification system for alerting users ofwireless communication devices of emergencies using a personal areanetwork compatible accessory. Additionally, any storage techniques usedin connection with a notification system for alerting users of wirelesscommunication devices of emergencies using a personal area networkcompatible accessory can invariably be a combination of hardware andsoftware.

While a notification system for alerting users of wireless communicationdevices of emergencies using a personal area network compatibleaccessory has been described in connection with the various embodimentsof the various figures, it is to be understood that other similarembodiments can be used or modifications and additions can be made tothe described embodiment for performing the same function of thenotification system for alerting users of wireless communication devicesof emergencies using a personal area network compatible accessorywithout deviating therefrom. For example, one skilled in the art willrecognize that the notification system for alerting users of wirelesscommunication devices of emergencies using a personal area networkcompatible accessory as described in the present application may applyto any environment, whether wired or wireless, and may be applied to anynumber of such devices connected via a communications network andinteracting across the network. Therefore, the notification system foralerting users of wireless communication devices of emergencies using apersonal area network compatible accessory should not be limited to anysingle embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scopein accordance with the appended claims.

While geo-target mapping as disclosed herein can be used determine thebroadcasting capabilities of a cell site or telecommunications system,it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can be used ormodifications and additions can be made to the described embodiment forperforming the same functions described herein. For example, one skilledin the art will recognize that a system of geo-target mapping viaanother relational method can be used determine broadcastingcapabilities, and may apply to any environment, whether wired orwireless, and may be applied to any number of devices connected via acommunications network and interacting across the network.

What is claimed:
 1. A computer-readable storage medium that is not apropagating signal, the computer-readable storage medium comprisingexecutable instructions that when executed by a process cause theprocess to effectuate operations comprising: receiving an indication ofan affected geographic area; identifying at least one cell site relevantto the affected geographic area; determining capabilities of each of theat least one identified cell site; providing an indication of thedetermined capabilities of the at least one identified cell site; andmapping a relationship between the affected geographic area and at leastone secondary geographic area that is at least partially within theaffected geographic area, wherein: the capabilities for the at least oneidentified cell site in the affected geographic area are determinedbased on capabilities of at least one cell site in the at least onesecondary geographic area; and a same base station serves the affectedgeographic area and the at least one secondary geographic area.
 2. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein providing theindication of the capabilities for the at least one identified cell sitecomprises providing an indication of a broadcast technology supported bythe at least one identified cell site.
 3. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 1, the operations further comprising storing an identityof each of the at least one identified cell site relevant to theaffected geographic area and the indication of the capabilities for eachof the cell sites.
 4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1,the operations further comprising providing a message to a broadcastnetwork with the capabilities of the at least one identified cell siterelevant to the affected geographic area.
 5. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 1, the operations further comprisingbroadcasting an alert to the affected geographic area from at least oneof the at least one identified cell site having respective broadcastcapabilities.
 6. An apparatus comprising: a processor; and memorycoupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructionsthat when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuateoperations comprising: determining broadcast capabilities of a cellsite, wherein broadcast capabilities of a cell site comprise acapability of a cell site to handle alerts; compiling indications of thebroadcast capabilities of the cell site, wherein the cell site isassociated with a cell site identity (ID); and mapping the cell siteidentity (ID) to a first geographic area, wherein: the first geographicarea is a subset of a second geographic area; the second geographic areais mapped to the first geographic area such that the cell site identity(ID) is associated with the first geographic area and the secondgeographic areas; and a same base station serves the first geographicarea and the second geographic area.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, theoperations further comprising mapping the broadcast capabilities to thegeographic area.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, the operations furthercomprising: receiving an indication of an event; and if the eventaffects the geographic area mapped to the cell site identity (ID),providing the cell site identity (ID).
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, theoperations further comprising: providing the indication of broadcasttechnology supported by the cell site.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6, theoperations further comprising: providing the cell site identity (ID) toa broadcasting network.
 11. The apparatus of claim 6, the operationsfurther comprising: providing the cell site identity (ID) associatedwith the second geographic area to a broadcasting network forbroadcasting an alert within the second geographic area.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 6, the operations further comprising: compiling anindication of a broadcast technology supported by the cell site andassociating the broadcast technology to the cell site identity (ID). 13.The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the geographic area comprises at leastone of a city block, a college campus, a shopping center, a nuclearpower plant, a privately-owned building or property, a governmentbuilding or property, a zip code, a township, a county, a state, aregion, a nation, or a location and a range from that location.
 14. Acomputer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, thecomputer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions thatwhen executed by a process cause the process to effectuate operationscomprising: determining broadcast capabilities of a cell site, whereinbroadcast capabilities of a cell site comprise a capability of a cellsite to handle alerts; compiling indications of the broadcastcapabilities of the cell site, wherein the cell site is associated witha cell site identity (ID); and mapping the cell site identity (ID) to afirst geographic area, wherein: the first geographic area is a subset ofa second geographic area; the second geographic area is mapped to thefirst geographic area such that the cell site identity (ID) isassociated with the first geographic area and the second geographicareas; and a same base station serves the first geographic area and thesecond geographic area.
 15. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 14, the operations further comprising mapping the broadcastcapabilities to the geographic area.
 16. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 14, the operations further comprising: receiving anindication of an event; and if the event affects the geographic areamapped to the cell site identity (ID), providing the cell site identity(ID).
 17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, theoperations further comprising: providing the indication of broadcasttechnology supported by the cell site.
 18. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 14, the operations further comprising: providing thecell site identity (ID) to a broadcasting network.
 19. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 14, the operations furthercomprising: providing the cell site identity (ID) associated with thesecond geographic area to a broadcasting network for broadcasting analert within the second geographic area.
 20. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 14, the operations further comprising: compilingan indication of a broadcast technology supported by the cell site andassociating the broadcast technology to the cell site identity (ID).